Background & Objectives: Dietary diversity score is a method to assess quality of individual's diet variation. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between dietary diversity and child growth status among primary school students in Ardabil. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 280 primary school students with age range of 7-11years in 2012. Data were collected using a personal information questionnaire and three 24-h recall questionnaires. Dietary diversity score was calculated from the number of food groups in all the three 24-hour recall questionnaires. Z-score related to weight for age and height for age were calculated by Epi info software version 6 World Health Organization, and entered into SPSS version16. Results: The mean age of the students was 1.42 ± 8.9 years. In terms of height for age, 20 students (14.7%) were in the normal range (z-score ≤ -2) and 260 (92.86%) suffered from stunted growth (Z-score ≥ -3). The index of weight for age of 14 students (5%) was normal and 266 (95%) were severely underweight. In terms of BMI 77 (27.5%) were lean and 203(72.5%) were obese. No significant relationships were observed between weight, height, and BMI of the student and their dietary diversity. Conclusion: Although there was no significant relation between nutritional indexes and dietary diversity score, but the results showed that prevalence of severe malnutrition is high and dietary diversity scores are low among primary school students in Ardebil.

Background & objectives: Nutritional assessment is the first component of nutrition care and it is necessary for prevention of malnutrition and promoting health. The aim of this study was to assess nutritional status and physical activity level in exceptional children.

Methods: This survey was a cross sectional study conducted on 470 exceptional students aged 5-15 years in 1391 in Tehran. Height and weight were measured using standard tools. International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to determine physical activity levels. The T-test, chi-square and Pearson correlation coefficient was used to analyze the data.

Results: According to body mass index (BMI) cut off points defined by WHO, 12.6%, 38.1% and 49.3% of children were wasting/severe wasting, overweight/obese and normal, respectively. The prevalence rates of low height for age (stunting) were 71.7% for mentally retarded, 36.3% for deaf and 17.7% for blind children. Time spent in intense activity was significantly higher in deaf children compared to children with mental retardation (p<0.05). Blind children had significantly highest daytime sitting among all children (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Due to high prevalence of malnutrition among exceptional students, incorporating a proper nutritional intervention into the comprehensive program will likely be successful.